Vegetable and fruit display container



Nov. 10,1942.

v. A. PETERSON VEGETABLE AND FRUIT DISPLAY CONTAINER Filed Nov. 27, 19:59

Patented Nov. 10, 1942 EGrme E AND FRUIT means? CONTAINER Vernon A.- Pcters n, lm Sp n s Calif, A plicat on Ncvcmb 27, 1 7N0.- 3%2411 4 Claims. (01. 205-44) My invention relates to a display rack or container particularly designed for attractively displaying vegetables, fruit, and the like, on the display stands of markets.

The principal objects of my invention are, to generally improve upon an simplify the construction of the existing terms of vegetable'display containers and further, to construct the .containers with reticulated bottoms; thereby providing" for thorough ventilation of the containers and their contents so as to counteract tendency of shrinkage and spoilage of the displayed products, also permitting water that is sprayed onto .the vegetables to readily discharge from'the containers I Further objects of my invention are, to provide display containers of the character referred to having simple and efficient means, including handles, that enable the containers to be readily handled while being placed in position upon or removed from the display stands, further, to provide each container with a clip adaptedto receivea price tag or the like and further, .toprovide the containers with readily adjustable partitions or dividers which enables two or more different varieties of vegetables or fruit vto be dis played in a single container,

With the foregoing and other objects in view,

my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts that will be hereinafter moreZfully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a display eontainer constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is across section taken on the line 3-.3 of Fig; 1. v r

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig; .5 is across section of one of the partitions or dividers that is rernovably positioned within the container.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the upper portion of a display stand of the conventional type used in markets and showing my improved display containers positioned thereon.

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the display rack or container.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view showing a modified form of mounting for the price tag on the rear end wall of the display rack.

drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiinent of my invention, ig lndesignate the side we o th c ntaine the samch in Pre er formed from sheet metal and the height of said wa l radu ll de e se towe their o wa ends. "The lowe rrearjcornersof the sid walls are cut away on inclined lines as designated by H and disposed between the forward ends ,of said side walls is a front wall I2, preferably of sheet metal.

Ext ndi sarwe dl from t e up er edge of the front wall 12 is a narrow flange l'3nand a similar flange 14 extends rearwardly from the lower ledgelof said front wall.

The parallel sidemembers 15 of a frame composed are, narrow strip ,of metal are positioned Tagainst'th'e outer faces .of the side walls It) along th u r edges th r g and na r w o t ons I6 of said'vslide walls are bent outwardly and downwardly over .thfe'rhe'rnbers' l5 and the parts are suit abl ysecured to each'other, for instance, by s w in or by mea lof r vets.

The'franie includes a transverse strip of metal 1] that connects the rear ends of the parallel members 15 between the upper rear corners of' h si e wa s ii and t a su tan a l j hl n rin bm e mem s prov d o t s de a u p r a r ii n e t c nt and the front wall L2 andthe flanges J3 and I4 m d le fi inf rq mem $0 th om o t o J t eb l aine Upper rear member I! of the l l shaped reinforcing frame is covered by'an inverted U shaped member I ,B, prefer ably' formed of esheetmetal, and secured to the "central portion ,of this covering member I 8 and projecting upwardly therefrom is an invertedQU-s'hahed mernber I 9 that functions as ahandle forthe rear portionjoflthe container.

si iebly sew d m eb ib p t Welding, to the rear side of the upper cross member of the handle 19' is therear leg of a 'U-s'haped member 20 formed of resilient metal, the front leg i l .pf which extends upwardly in front of the upper cross member of the handle l9, thus providing a plip that .e'xerts pressure against the lower edgeof a priceneard C that is inserted b ween said lip and' athe upper portion of the In Fig. 8 I have illustrated a modified form of the price tag holder and this construction comprises a tag holding clip 20a having a lower horizontally disposed U-shaped portion 201) that is adapted to engage with clamping pressure on an inturned flange 18a that projects for- Referring by numerals to the accompanying wardly from the transverse metal strip 11 that Projecting inwardly from the lower edges of l the side walls It are flanges 23 and secured to and resting upon said flanges and the flange M are the side and front edges respectively of a section 24 of reticulated material, which may be wire mesh, perforated sheet metal, or expanded sheet metal, of the type frequently used in building construction and which may be readily obtained in the open market.

All of the parts of the container are preferably formed from metal and'said parts are integrally connected either by spot welding or fastening devices such as rivets and thus, the container'and its handle is a practically one piece structure that is capable of withstanding rough usage and the wear and tear to which it may I be subjected.

The inwardly turned flange IS on the upper edge of the front wall l2 provides a c-onvenient ledge to be engaged by'the thumb or fingers of the hand while lifting and carrying the container and at the same time, said inwardly turned flange provides a substantial reinforcement for the front end of the container.

In certain vegetable and fruit markets or where the containers are supported on a flat surface or in a stair step arrangement, the containers may be constructed with side walls that are the same height throughout their length with the exception of the inclined rear lower edges H and in Fig; '7 I have shown a container of this particular form.

by merely lifting out one or more of the containers instead of moving the merchandise when the stands are being rearranged or cleaned.

The use of the display containers provides for a uniform price arrangement due to the provision of means for. applying a price card to each individual container and in addition to effecting a saving of time and labor in the handling of goods that are removed from stands to be placed in storage boxes and which practice is generally carried out in stores that are closed on Sundays and holidays, the damage and loss of merchandisc during such procedure is minimized.

'I'hus it will be seen that I have provided a vegetable and fruit display container that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and very effective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

It .will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various 1 parts of my improved vegetable and fruit display container, may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A, display container comprising a pair of side walls which gradually decrease in height toward their forward ends, a front wall, an inclined rear wall, a reinforcing frame having parallel side members that are secured on the upper edges of the side walls of the container and a rear member that is secured on the upper edge of the inclined rear wall, flanges projecting inwardly from the lower portions of the sides, front and rear walls of the container and a reticulated bottom removably positioned within the container and supported by said flanges.

2. A display container as set forth in claim 1 and a handle secured to and projecting upwardly from the central portion of said rear wall.

3. A display container as set forth in claim 1,

' with a handle secured to and projecting upward- In Fig. 5 I have shown a readily movable partition adapted to be positioned within the'con-* tainer and to extend from front to rear thereof so as to divide the space in the container into separate chambers for the display of fruits and vegetables. ably formed of sheet metal and comprises a ver-'' tically disposed portion 25 and a horizontally disposed base 26 that is adapted to rest directly on the reticulated member 24.

This partition or divider is preferly from the central, portion of said rear wall and. means on said handle for receiving and holding a price tag.

4. A display container comprising a pair of side walls which gradually decrease in height toward their forward ends; a front wall connecting the forward ends of said side walls, in-

I tegral flanges projecting rearwardly from the When used for displaying vegetables, fruit, and p the like, the containers may be positioned on" a supporting structure or stand as illustrated in Fig. 6 and said containers may be arranged in transverserows with a plurality of containers in each row, thus attractively displaying a number of different vegetables or fruits in an attractive manner within a limited area.

The use of the containers saves much time and labor in the handling of goods displayed for sale inasmuch as the containers may be filled as the produce is trimmed in the trimming room,

after which the filled containers are positioned upon the display stands. Further, the double handling of perishable merchandise is avoided upper and lower edges of said front wall, an inclined rear wall connecting'the rear ends of said side walls, flanges projecting inwardl from the lower edges of the side and rear walls, a perforated bottom removably positioned within the container and resting upon the flanges of said side and rear wall and upon the flange projecting inwardly from the lower edge of the front wall, a reinforcing frame having side members that are secured to the upper portions of the side walls of the container and a rear member that is secured to the upper edge of the inclined rear wall of said container and a handle secured to and projecting upwardly from the intermediate portion of said rear wall.

VERNON A. PETERSON. 

